Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

A university professor visits Master Nan-in to find out about Zen. Nan-in serves him tea, but keeps pouring even tho' the cup is full. "Master, the cup is overflowing. Please stop.".... "you are like this cup, full of your own views. If you do not empty your cup how can i show you Zen?"

The non-dwelling mind is the mind of the Buddha, it is the mind of liberation, it is the mind of Bodhi, and it is the mind of non-birth. So, if you really want meditation to come about, sit properly erect and close your eyes. Then purify your mind, lay down everything and think of neither good nor evil. Just observe your thoughts. As you look for their place of origin, you discover that they suddenly rise up and just as suddenly disappear, and that this process goes on and on. Be patient and continue to observe them, and you will, in time, know the thoughts to be devoid of any self-nature; also you will, thereby, know original emptiness. Do not attempt to follow the thoughts, to trace them in any way or have any intention of getting rid of them, and, in time, awareness will manifest as your mind illumines a thought. Then, there will suddenly be a stillness that becomes suchness. At some point, another thought will arise, and you will observe it in the same way.

Do this at least once a day, sitting from fifteen minutes to an hour. As your concentration deepens, your thoughts slow down and diminish in number, and your power of illumination increases until you eventually find out that not a single thought arises. Then, there is only stillness and voidness, for then the mind is clear and pure. This is your self-nature as known directly through wisdom (Prajna)

Author by

Dharma Master Lok Tobased on the meditation manual of Ting Chen

A 30 day meditation retreat will take place in the Sunshine Zen Centre, under the guidance of Master Henry, if you require further information please contact the Monastery by phone or e-mail us at sunshinezencenter@gmail.com

Sunshine Coast, British Columbia.

Master Henry

Biography

Master trained extensively for several years in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. Originally from Taiwan, he gave up a successful career as a university professor and became a Buddhist Monk.

In 1996 after a short period in Toronto he landed on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. he lived in a small cabin for 8 years concentrating on his meditation practice, with the support of the Taiwanese and Canadian community a piece of land was purchased, later on the monastery was built.

Currently Master Henry still travels to Hong Kong and Taiwan twice a year to teach Cha'n to people from all walks of life. His sincere approach to the core of Buddha's teachings & his exceptional personality have touched the hearts of many fortunate beings

Only One Heart

Gaze into the Emptiness, the illusory changings of this world.Enter the Emptiness. Others have. It’s not so hard.Is there any place that’s unreachable when you make the effort?Don’t be left behind because you’ve confused yourself over this.

Here! Let me rap you on the head with my stick!Shut up, foolish face! Stop talking a minute!Don’t be so quick to argue!The mystery is so exquisite! It can’t be discussed!Yes, I recite the Buddha’s name… or is the Buddha reciting mine?What’s the recitation for anyway?There’s only One Heart and It’s in the Pure Land.The Buddha is my own True Nature.

The Buddha and me! We’re one, not two. So are you!You’re chanting to this? You are this!Come, hold on to this reality! Don’t be swept away into illusion.History is an endless lie.Let today be the day that the clouds and fog lift.Don’t let a wisp of them remain.Let your body live here, but keep your spirit evanescent.See that when it’s free,It can’t be bogged down into those old familiar truth